Sarcopenia Is Associated With Increased Mortality in Patients With Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

INTRODUCTION

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are surgical emergencies associated with high morbidity and mortality. Identifying risk factors for poor outcome is a critical part of preoperative decision-making and counseling. Sarcopenia, the loss of lean muscle mass, has been associated with an increased risk of mortality and can be measured using cross-sectional imaging. Our aim was to determine the impact of sarcopenia on mortality in patients with NSTI. We hypothesized that sarcopenia would be associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with NSTI.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of NSTI patients admitted from 1995 to 2015 to two academic institutions. Operative and pathology reports were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis in all cases. Average bilateral psoas muscle cross-sectional area at L4, normalized for height (Total Psoas Index [TPI]), was calculated using computed tomography (CT). Sarcopenia was defined as TPI in the lowest sex-specific quartile. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between sarcopenia and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

There were 115 patients with preoperative imaging, 61% male and a median age of 57 y interquartile range (IQR 46.6-67.0). Overall in-hospital mortality was 12.1%. There was no significant difference in sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (Table 1). After multivariate analysis, sarcopenia was independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality (Odds ratio, 3.5; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.05-11.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia is associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with NSTIs. Sarcopenia identifies patients with higher likelihood of poor outcomes, which can possibly help surgeons in counseling their patients and families.

Abstract 87: Comparative Outcomes Of TAVR In African Americans Versus Non-African Americans

Introduction: African Americans (AA) experience more postoperative complications compared to non-African Americans (NAA) after certain procedures. Few studies compare clinical outcomes between AA and NAA post Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Our aim is to further explore racial disparities among TAVR patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from March 2018-November 2020 of a major academic center and affiliated Veterans Affairs hospital in Chicago, IL identified all TAVR patients. Participants self-identified by race and were stratified into AA and NAA groups. The primary outcome was 3-point composite major adverse cardiac outcomes (MACE) (all cause death, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident). Secondary outcomes included major differences in comorbidities, creatinine, baseline mean gradient, congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbations, and hospital admissions. Outcomes were analyzed at 6- and 12-months post TAVR.

Results: We included 151 patients in the analysis; 22% female, 65% were non-AA (44.7% white, 16.4% Hispanic, and 3.9% other) and 35% AA. They were 74 +/- 14 years old for the AA and 74 +/- 10 years old for non-AA. At 6 months (AA:15.1% v NAA:8.1%; p=.2) and at 12 months (AA:22.6% v NAA:16.2%; p=.3), there was no difference in MACE between the two populations. At 6 months post TAVR, AA were more likely to have a CHF exacerbation compared to NAA (AA:15.1% v NAA:3.1%; p=.007) despite a similar prevalence of heart failure at baseline, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and smoking. AA were found to have a higher baseline mean gradient when compared to NAA (AA: 36.2 v NAA:31.9 mmHg; p=.049). Creatinine at time of procedure was higher in AA when compared to NAA (Cr: 2.37 vs. 1.49 mg/dL; p=.015) and AA trended towards higher rates of end stage renal disease compared to NAA (AA:22.6% v NAA:11.1%; p=.059).

Conclusion: We observed significant disparities between AA and their NAA counterparts. While both groups had similar rates of composite MACE events post TAVR at 6 and 12 months, AA tend to be a higher risk post-operative population. AA were more likely to have CHF exacerbations and were evaluated for TAVR at a later stage in their disease course.

Abstract 85: Evaluation Of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Prescribing In Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair

Background: The benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in heart failure (HF) are well established, but the optimization of GDMT prior to and following transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) remains understudied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate GDMT use pre-and post-TEER.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the electronic health records from 2019 to 2021 at the University of Illinois at Chicago of patients that underwent TEER. Patients were included if they had follow-up records within 6 months and a baseline ejection fraction (EF) < 50%. Demographic information, vitals, labs, and pertinent echocardiogram information were obtained at baseline and 6 months. GDMT doses were collected at baseline, discharge, 30 days, 3, and 6 months.

Results: In total, 20 patients were included: 15 were male (75%) and 19 were non-white (95%). The average age was 66.8 years old (range 32.8-86.5). Past medical history was significant for 19 with hypertension (95%) and 15 with hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and smoking history, respectively (75%). Pre-procedure mean blood pressure and heart rate were 123/74 mmHg and 81 bpm. Average creatinine was 1.66 ± 0.94 mg/dL and 1.10 ± 0.97 mg/dL at baseline and 6 months, respectively. A total of 9 patients (45%) had functional mitral regurgitation, 11 (65%) had primary or degenerative mitral regurgitation. A total of 6 patients (30%) had 11 readmissions for acute decompensated HF, 2 patients died, and 1 patient’s EF improved to > 50% by 6 months. GDMT is described in Table 1. No patients were prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors.

Conclusion: GDMT for patients pre-and post-TEER procedure is neither prescribed nor titrated effectively. Further investigation will focus on confounding factors affecting prescribing patterns and titrations. Our findings demonstrate a continued opportunity for quality improvement in GDMT optimization during TEER hospital admission and follow-up visits.

Abstract 79: The Impact Of Left Atrial And Left Ventricular Size On TAVR Outcomes

Introduction: In severe aortic stenosis, left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) enlargement are common physiologic sequelae but their prognostic value in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) outcomes is still being investigated. The purpose of this study is to look at the effect of left atrial and ventricular size on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) following TAVR.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from 2018-2020 at the University of Illinois at Chicago and affiliated Veterans Affairs identified TAVR patients. The cutoff for normal LA diameter was <4.0 cm. Normal LV systolic diameter was <4.1 cm and an enlarged LV based on dilated systolic LV diameter. Primary outcomes included composite MACE (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular accident) at 6- and 12- months post TAVR. MACE was then stratified based on the number of dilated left-sided chambers.

Results: We included 134 patients in the analysis. The study population was 81% (109 of 134) male, 56% (75 of 134) non-white, and 74 ± 12 years old. Patients that experienced MACE at 6 months were found to have a larger systolic LV diameter (3.9 vs 3.3 cm, p=0.02). MACE was stratified based on the number of dilated chambers (neither, LA or LV, both) and was found to be significant at 6 months (4.1% to 10.4% and 35.3% p=0.002) but not at 12 months (12.2% vs 19.1% vs 35.3% p=0.11). Patients with increased LA size (4.8 vs. 4.1 cm; p=0.001) had higher rates of MACE, specifically with respect to mortality (p=0.007). When comparing patients with an enlarged LA (4.8 cm) to normal-sized LA (<4.0 cm), there was no statistically significant difference in ejection fraction <50% (16.7% vs 14.5% of patients, respectively; p=0.8) or enlarged diastolic LV diameter (4.5 vs. 4.6 cm; p=0.7).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that patients with an enlarged LA or LV may have an increased risk for mortality and composite MACE following procedure at either 6- or 12-months even when controlling for confounding factors such as depressed LV or enlarged diastolic LV diameter. Our study suggests LA and LV size should be considered in risk stratifying patients prior to TAVR.

Adult survivors of moderate and great complexity congenital heart disease undergoing general surgery procedures: How do they fare?

BACKGROUND

Patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) are now commonly surviving well into adulthood. We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes for a cohort of adult patients with moderate and great complexity CHD undergoing general surgery procedures.

METHODS

The electronic records of two tertiary centers were queried to identify adult patients with moderate and great complexity CHD who underwent a general surgery procedure between 2007 and 2017.

RESULTS

118 adult patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 36 ± 17 years and 49.2% were male. The most common cardiac diagnoses were pulmonary valve anomaly (24.6%), tetralogy of Fallot (18.6%), coarctation of the aorta (15.3%) and common/single ventricle (10.2%). The most common general surgery procedures performed were cholecystectomy (23.7%), herniorrhaphy (23.7%) and colorectal resection (9.3%). In-hospital mortality and morbidity were 2.5% and 11.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Adults survivors of moderate and great complexity CHD undergoing common general surgery procedures in this study experienced excellent in-hospital outcomes.

Fellowship training influences learning curves for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the most commonly performed bariatric surgical procedure. Little is known about how surgeon training background influences the learning curve of this procedure. We examined operating times (OT), weight loss outcomes, and 30-day complications between surgeons with and without fellowship training in LSG. We hypothesize that post-residency training specific to LSG influences learning curves.

METHODS

Surgeons from a single institution were split into two groups: those who had not completed fellowship training in LSG (NF, n = 3), and those who had completed LSG specific training in fellowship (SGF, n = 3). OTs, BMI changes at 1 year, and 30-day readmissions, reoperations, and complications were extracted for the first 100 LSG cases of each surgeon. Data were analyzed in bins of 20 cases. Comparisons were made between cohorts within a bin and between adjacent bins of the same surgeon cohort. Logistic regression analyses were performed of OT and weight loss outcomes.

RESULTS

SGF surgeons showed no difference in OTs over their first 100 cases. NF surgeons had statistically significant increased OTs compared to SGF surgeons during their first 60 cases and progressively shortened OTs during that interval (109 min to 78 min, p < 0.001 for NF surgeons vs. 73 min to 69 min, SGF surgeons). NF surgeons had a significantly steeper slope for improvement in OT over case number. There was no correlation between case number and weight loss outcomes in either group, and no differences in 30-day outcomes between groups.

CONCLUSION

Surgeons who trained to perform LSG in fellowship demonstrate faster and consistent OR times on their initial independent LSG cases compared to surgeons who did not, with no correlation between case number and weight loss outcomes or safety profiles for either group. This suggests that learning curves for LSG are achieved during formal case-specific fellowship training.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Does Admission Service Matter?

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common, and significant institutional variation exists with regards to structure and processes of care. Affected patients may be admitted to one of several different services, and this may drive differential care and outcomes. We sought to evaluate differential care and outcomes for patients with isolated mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury based on admission service.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a single-institution retrospective study of all adult (≥18 y old) patients admitted with isolated TBI (AIS ≤1 in all other body regions) over a 3-year period (6/2015-6/2018). Patients who underwent neurosurgical intervention (craniectomy/craniotomy) and those with a head AIS ≥4 were excluded. Patients were assigned to one of three groups based upon admission service: Trauma Surgery, Neurology/Medicine or Neurosurgery. Outcomes evaluated included in-hospital mortality and markers of differential care. We performed multivariate analyses adjusting for patient demographics and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 401 isolated mild-to-moderate TBI patients were identified. Overall mortality was 1.7%. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated no difference in mortality. Patients admitted to Neurosurgery underwent more repeat head CTs and were more likely to receive antiseizure medication in the absence of seizure activity, and those admitted to Neurology/Medicine were less likely to receive venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis compared to those admitted to Trauma Surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

We identify several important metrics of variation in care received by patients with an isolated mild-to-moderate TBI based upon admission service. These findings deserve further study, and this study may lay the foundation for future efforts at protocolizing care in an evidence-based fashion for this patient cohort.

Detecting Invasive Fungal Disease in Surgical Patients: Utility of the (13)- β-d-Glucan Assay

Background: The specificity and sensitivity of the (13)-β-d-glucan (BDG) assay in surgical patients needs further investigation. We hypothesized that the BDG assay would have lower sensitivity/specificity compared with that of medical patients. Methods: We reviewed patients who had undergone laparotomy, gastrectomy, hepatectomy, or colectomy and had a BDG assay post-operatively. Results: A total of 71 patients met study criteria. There were 29 (40.8%) who had proven/probable invasive fungal infection. Sensitivity for BDG level ≥80 diagnosed within one week of the assay draw was 77.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.6-92.2%), and specificity was 44.9% (95% CI, 30.7-59.8). The positive predictive value was 38.6% (95% CI, 31.0-46.9%), and negative predictive value was 82.5% (95% CI, 65.7-91.0%). A BDG assay result of 149 pg/mL had a classification rate of 63.4%. Therefore, a BDG assay result ≥150 pg/mL has a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 41.4%. Conclusion: A BDG assay can be useful for ruling out invasive fungemia in post-operative patients.